Day to Day technology expert Xeni Jardin reports about the impact that digital camera technology has had on the war in Iraq (ra).
The DOD’s Directive (pdf) doesn’t specifically ban picturephones — it’s more general. Wireless communications is required to encrypt and authenticate voice and data communications. It would ban wireless devices from sensitive areas, storing information in wireless devices, require electromagnetic screening to detect wireless devices, and requires anti-virus software.
“I’ve worked on whistleblower protection bills and thought a lot about the importance of the ability for people to come forward outside of the chain of command. It is an essential protection measure against coverups and corruption. I can understand arguments about why allowing random photos could be bad, but I’m sure the importance of having “eyes on the ground” outside of the “main channel” out-weigh the risks.The increasing reliance of this administration on secrecy is really disturbing. When your government starts to strip the people of their privacy and civil rights and consistently marches forward with a variety of efforts to hides its own movements, you know you’re in real trouble”.
BTW, Jardin also covered the surreal sights and sounds of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles — the world’s largest video game convention (ra).
Meanwhile, the Council for Excellence in Government has released a new report that says OHS can and should do more with mobile technology to keep citizens up to date on emergency developments. One of the recommendations in the report included using the Emergency Email Wireless Network, a free non-profit corporation that delivers to subscribers via e-mail, mobile phone, or pager emergency and time-sensitive information (fires, school closings, severe weather, etc.) provided by local and state authorities.
- The President should direct the Department of Homeland Security to convene leaders from federal, state and local governments, the private sector and civic organizations to update the National Strategy for Homeland Security, with input from citizens.
- State and local governments, schools and workplaces should update and practice their plans, with direct involvement of citizens, parents and employees.
- Local governments should produce index cards of critical information in a user-friendly format that can be distributed in multiple languages through many channels to homes, workplaces and schools.
- Local officials should set up one telephone number (similar to 311 or 911) for citizens to report homeland security threats and emergency information; and offer citizens a service that will send emergency information to phones, cell phones, email addresses, pagers and other personal communications devices.
- The President should designate the month of September as Homeland Security Preparedness Month and governors, mayors and other leaders should plan events to amplify the effort.
- The National Strategy on Homeland Security should set the goal of a seamless network for authorized public safety officials to share information and talk to each other at a level of reliability and security that can withstand the demands of a national emergency.
RAINS-Net, the Regional Alliances for Infrastructure and Network Security, might be one solution. It provides automated alerts from the 911 emergency centers and relays messages to authorized personel in schools, hospitals and downtown building managers. Or the general public, if need be.
Private cellular emergency services are also available. You can sign up now to get emergency messages sent to your phone from local, regional and national government sources.
Qwest and the American Red Cross in Utah, Arizona, Washington, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nebraska/South Dakota and Oregon are providing free volunteer training services and once completed, participants can choose additional education and disaster training of interest or importance to them.
We should take more responsibility. It’s our lives, our family, our neighborhood. Don’t depend on the feds — they’re not going to be there. Here’s my Emergency Website. Maybe I should dust it off. When Portland flooded in 1995, I found myself running a website that was said to help and inform thousands (no local media had websites up yet). It will be the same next time. You’re the tool master.
Don’t expect praise from bureaucrats or help from higher-ups. Just do it. Do what you can, do what you know. Blogging might be an enabler. Start a program. Organize a plan. Right now.
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